Blasts rekindle anti-colonial sentiment

Whoever carried out the deadly blasts that killed Malek Mohammad Parvizi and five other Iranians has not owned up to their handiwork, but the dead man's family voice no doubt about who is to blame.

"I believe it was Britain," said Mr Parvizi's brother, Eidi Mohammad, 49, as he hosted mourners. "I know the record of the old coloniser. If you go back through the pages of history you can see the reason. I believe they are preparing a plan for the next 20 or 50 years in Iran. They don't want us or any other third world country to drink a glass of water peacefully. They think they should control other countries."

The comments reflect a resurgence of deep-seated anti-British feeling sweeping Iran as international pressure over the country's nuclear programme intensifies. The sentiment has gained momentum since last Saturday's explosions in the southern city of Ahvaz, capital of the mainly Arab Khuzestan province.

Parvizi, 42, was returning from his job as a courier in a bank when he was struck by the full force of an explosion caused by a handmade device hidden in a rubbish bin.

He was trying to help victims of another blast which had taken place nearby minutes earlier when he was caught in a hail of broken glass and flying metal. Parvizi, the father of a three-month-old girl, died of severe chest wounds as doctors fought to save him. More than 100 people were wounded in the explosions, which happened in Ahvaz's busy Naderi Street at evening rush hour as locals were preparing to end their Ramadan fast.

Despite vehement British denials, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, pointed the finger unambiguously at the UK. "We have no reason to believe that Britain was not involved in the recent incident," he told student news agency ISNA. "We are well aware of such countries' behaviour. Terrorist acts and insecurity are among the methods used by occupying countries like the UK."

His comments came amid calls from Iran's hardline press for the expulsion of Britain's ambassador, Richard Dalton. "Tolerating imposed crisis is against our dignity," wrote the ultra-conservative Kayhan. "We should start with mild reactions like closing the British embassy and eventually sever the ties."

Iran had already blamed Britain for four explosions last June which occurred in a single day in Ahvaz, a city of around 1 million people which still bears the scars of heavy bombardment sustained during the 1980-88 war with Iraq. The British embassy dismissed the allegations as "unfounded fantasy".

Little evidence has been presented to support the claims. Iranian officials have instead pointed to the 8,000 British troops stationed in southern Iraq as giving Britain an opportunity to encourage Arab separatism in Khuzestan.

Iran claimed outside forces were behind an outbreak of violent unrest in Khuzestan last April, which left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured. The violence was triggered by the circulation of a letter - which the government insisted was forged - outlining a plan to increase Khuzestan's non-Arab population. However, local commentators say it had deeper roots, namely discrimination against the Arab majority, manifested in poor job opportunities and a lack of basic amenities.

Anti-British feeling is easily stirred in Iran. Memories linger of Britain's former control over the oil industry and its role in a 1953 coup overthrowing the nationalist prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, which cemented the rule of the last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

"When you look at Britain just next door in Iraq, think about its involvement in the history of this country and then see it siding with America on the nuclear issue, it's easy to see why people are ready to accuse," said Mohammad Hazbayee, managing editor of Hamsayeha newspaper.

Not everybody is convinced of Britain's involvement. Some accuse elements of the Islamic regime - perhaps seeking to create a siege mentality ahead of a nuclear showdown - of responsibility for the blasts.

"Do you think Britain or America are so poor and miserable that they would come here and plant these bombs?" asked Saeed, 46, whose customers fled after Saturday's first explosion rocked his jewellery shop.